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Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL5

Portability
58
Imaging
48
Features
76
Overall
59
Olympus E-5 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL5 Key Specs

Olympus E-5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 800g - 143 x 117 x 75mm
  • Released February 2011
  • Replaced the Olympus E-3
Olympus E-PL5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 325g - 111 x 64 x 38mm
  • Launched September 2012
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Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL5 Overview

The following is a detailed assessment of the Olympus E-5 versus Olympus E-PL5, former is a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and they are both produced by Olympus. There is a noticeable difference between the resolutions of the E-5 (12MP) and E-PL5 (16MP) but both cameras offer the identical sensor sizes (Four Thirds).

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The E-5 was announced 19 months prior to the E-PL5 which makes them a generation away from each other. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going right into a detailed comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the E-5 matches up against the E-PL5 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-5 over the Olympus E-PL5

 E-5 E-PL5 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Screen resolution920k460kSharper screen (+460k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Olympus E-5

 E-PL5 E-5 
LaunchedSeptember 2012February 2011Newer by 19 months
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-5 and Olympus E-PL5

 E-5 E-PL5 
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Screen size3"3"Same screen dimensions
Selfie screen Both are selfie friendly

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL5 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to travel with your camera, you will want to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-5 comes with physical dimensions of 143mm x 117mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) and the Olympus E-PL5 has measurements of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-5 versus Olympus E-PL5 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are working with at the time. Underneath is a front view dimension comparison of the E-5 and the E-PL5.

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL5 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the E-5 and E-PL5 is 58 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL5 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be tough to picture the contrast between sensor dimensions merely by looking at technical specs. The picture here will help give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the E-5 and E-PL5.

As you have seen, the two cameras come with the identical sensor size albeit different megapixels. You can expect the Olympus E-PL5 to resolve more detail with its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The more aged E-5 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-5
Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL5
60
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focus
exports RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
71
has manual focus
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focusing
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-5
Street photography with Olympus E-PL5
71
screen articulates
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
weather proofing
85
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
boasts touch focus
good ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-5 Sports photography factors
Olympus E-PL5 Sports photography factors
59
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
weather proofing
supports phase detect auto focus
continuous shooting slow (5.0 frames/s)
low MP (12MP)
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-5 Travel photography details
Olympus E-PL5 Travel photography details
56
weather proofing
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
doesn't have Timelapse recording
low MP (12 megapixels)
75
boasts touch focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
selfie friendly display
no Time Lapse mode
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-5 Landscape photography details
Olympus E-PL5 Landscape photography details
65
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
weather proofing
has double storage slots
low MP (12MP)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
74
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW files
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-5 Vlogging features
Olympus E-PL5 Vlogging features
64
selfie friendly screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focus
comes with microphone port
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
78
selfie friendly display
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
no mic jack
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Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-5 and Olympus E-PL5
 Olympus E-5Olympus PEN E-PL5
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-5 Olympus PEN E-PL5
Category Advanced DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2011-02-03 2012-09-17
Body design Mid-size SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic V+ -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 6400 25600
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 11 35
Cross focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 45 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Tilting
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 920k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology HyperCrystal transmissive LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames/s 8.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 18.00 m (at ISO 200) 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250 seconds 1/250 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 800 gr (1.76 lb) 325 gr (0.72 lb)
Physical dimensions 143 x 117 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 56 72
DXO Color Depth score 21.6 22.8
DXO Dynamic range score 10.5 12.3
DXO Low light score 519 889
Other
Battery life 870 photographs 360 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLM-5 BLS-5
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II)/SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Dual 1
Price at launch $1,700 $400